China makes further push for tobacco-free schools

China's education and health ministries have moved to curb smoking at educational institutions, limiting smoking to designated areas in higher-learning institutions and forbidding smoking at lower-level schools.

In a joint notice issued Tuesday, the two ministries prohibited anyone, including students and visitors, from smoking at elementary or secondary schools, nurseries and kindergartens, as well as at vocational schools.

Furthermore, no tobacco products may be sold on campus.

At institutions of higher-learning, no faculty, staff, students or visitors will be permitted to smoke on campus in non-smoking areas like classrooms and libraries.

Teachers will be required to refrain from smoking in front of students.

Additionally, tobacco control must be integrated into new students' orientation programs.

The notice also forbids tobacco advertising at schools. It also asks for no-smoking signs to be posted in conspicuous locations at schools.

China is home to over 300 million smokers. Each year one million people die of smoking-related diseases.

Source: Xinhua